And then there were two.

[biggentleben]

I agree and really love what they are doing over there. Tough break for Medlen, the second TJ is typically a horrible one for your career. A career 2.95 ERA over 512 IP. But they have had TJ out of Medlen x 2, Beachy, and Tommy Hansen was a can't miss prospect pre-TJ as well. And they still have a good young rotation and team. Lot of young studs on that team and they haven't been drafting in the top 5 or 10 consistently for a very long time.

 

Thanks for the kind words on the Braves org. I rather enjoy hearing guys like Keith Law rip into their farm system as it currently sits because there are no impact guys at the top, yet they're the youngest team in the majors currently. One small thing that Hanson never had TJ. His stuff was all shoulder-related, which is a much scarier situation for any pitcher. I'm very pleased with the depth the minor league system has, and I think in a couple years guys like Victor Reyes and Jose Peraza could be elite level prospects, along the lines of where Freeman was.

[DaveW]

And how exactly is that different than now?

 

The long winded part.

[jharaldson]

Lowball the guy, be happy if he accepts, don't look back if he doesn't. Take advantage of market inefficiencies, don't spend money just for the sake of spending money.

 

Can you provide any examples of where lowball multi year free agent offers were made by the Twins and accepted by the free agent? Garza, E Santana, J Santana, Hunter, Guardado, Hawkins, Casey Blake, ect...... all turned down these types of offers from the Twins over the years. If they never succeed is it really an offer?

[old nurse]

Can you provide any examples of where lowball multi year free agent offers were made by the Twins and accepted by the free agent? Garza, E Santana, J Santana, Hunter, Guardado, Hawkins, Casey Blake, ect...... all turned down these types of offers from the Twins over the years. If they never succeed is it really an offer?

 

Willingham signed for less per year than other offers because the Twins offered the third year.

From your list I would say Hunter was the only mistake so far.

[Mike Sixel]

Given that the only FAs they've signed in the last few years were cheap, or Willingham and the pitchers this year, I'd guess not many FAs accepted low ball offers, if they were made.

 

How is getting more money (due to the third year) a low ball offer? I ask that in all seriousness, I do not understand that argument.

[Jim H]

I never was all that excited about E. Santana, though I never have been much worried about any of the current starters blocking prospects either. I suspect that when Gibson, Meyer and any of the other prospects show they are likely better than one or more of the current starters, a place will be available or made available for them. It maybe that the prospects will have to show they are ready at AAA a little longer than some will like, but I doubt if it will be all that long.

 

The Twins haven't invested so much in Correia or Pelfrey that they wouldn't eat their salaries if they had to. Though it wouldn't likely come to that. To some degree that is true of Hughes as well. Though I doubt if the Twins would have gone 3 years and $8 mil per, if they thought he was going to end up a relief pitcher. Mostly I don't think that money is a big deal, the Twins are under budget, so if they end up eating money on any of their free agent acquisitions, I doubt if they will worry about it.

 

I have no interest in Drew, I doubt if he stays healthy enough to play enough to justify what he would cost. Even if he is significantly better than Florimon, which I rather doubt he will be. If Florimon or Santana prove they aren't going to be the answer, there will be better free agent or trade options available than Drew. I would be more interested in Morales, but I hope that Willingham ends up mostly at DH, because Hicks, Arcia and maybe Parmelee are eating up time in the OF.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

I'm not interested in Morales. This is a Twins team rife with defensively challenged players who can play first base and corner outfield but poorly. Drew, on the other hand, provides offensive skill at a defensive position that needs to be upgraded. If the Twins could sign Drew and swing a trade with Chicago for De Aza (without giving up the farm) as well I would be a happy camper as both would be improvements over current players and provide depth for next year if Santana and Buxton aren't ready.

[Oxtung]

Damn, I seem to have missed the fun! My schizophrenic side needs to let it out:

 

Personality A: "What a good bargain."

 

Personality B: "But 52%"

 

Personality A: "Pfft, future flexibility."

 

Personality B: "Millions of dollars available, Billionaires."

 

Personality A: "Not your company."

 

Personality C: *facepalm* "Again?" "Mods!!!"

 

Great, now I have a Mexican Standoff in my head and I'm afraid I'm going to lose.

[jharaldson]

Willingham signed for less per year than other offers because the Twins offered the third year.

From your list I would say Hunter was the only mistake so far.

 

Willingham's agent did state he accepted less money here, but never stated the amount which could mean anything from several million a year, a fourth year option buyout, or an extra $100,000 in incentives. Given we don't know what is going on there we can look at what he was projected to get and compare.

 

Projected 3 yr/$24 million

http://www.twinkietown.com/2011/12/13/2634230/josh-willingham-to-sign-with-twins

Actual 3 yr/$21 million

 

Compare this to E Santana

Projected 5 yrs/$75 million

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2013/10/free-agent-profile-ervin-santana.html

Twins Offer 3 yrs/$33 million

 

Same years, $1 million less a year does not compare to 2 years less, $4 million less a year.

[Riverbrian]

It seems we had an unsupervised food fight take place. The food is stuck to the walls of this thread so I'm gonna lock it down.

 

Payroll is clearly a divisive issue.

 

I believe payroll discussion is an unavoidable debate in consideration of the strong feelings on both sides.

 

We are asking that it doesn't invade every thread. It has in the past and the moderation crew is trying to prevent the payroll debate from resembling Asian Carp in every waterway.

 

This topic was about the two remaining free agents... Personally... I have no interest in Drew but I wouldn't mind Morales. That's my on-topic thought about it.

 

Please... In the future... Refrain from dragging payroll into topics... Unless the topic is about payroll.

 

And yes... I see how a free agent discussion can lead to a payroll discussion. If we try hard enough... Almost every topic can turn into a payroll discussion. We are asking that it doesn't.

 

Go ahead and start a 52 percent thread and go at it. Just do it respectfully and the discussion will be fine. Just keep it out of the discussion about the return of Jason Kubel.

 

Also feel free to restart a "Drew and Morales... Should we get them thread"?

 

Now I shall lock this one up. The lasagna is falling off the ceiling.